Coin counting device



'Nov. 8, 1949 L. T. MICONI 2,487,164

COIN COUNTING DEVICE Filed May 26, 1947 94W FMMQ:

TORN EY iNVENTOR.

Patented Nov. 8, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COIN COUNTING DEVICE Leonard T. Miconi, Reading, Pa.

Application May 26, 1947, Serial No. 750,424

5 Claims. (01. 1338) The present invention relates to a coin counting device, and more particularly to a coin counting and coin packing device.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a device for counting coins, with additional means for packing the counted coins.

Another object is to provide a coin counting assembly including a coin receiving tube associated with a coin counter tube adapted to receive a predetermined number of coins.

A further object is to provide a coin counting and packing assembly including in combination a coin receiving tube, a coin counter tube, and a coin packing tube.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description thereof and from the claims appended thereto.

In the drawing wherein like numerals refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views;

Figure 1 is a front elevation depicting the coin counting and packing assembly and embodying the features of the invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 22 of Figure 1 in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1 in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a sectional view illustrating the coin counter tube out of registry with the coin receiving tube; and

Figure 5 is a detail view of the coin counting and packing mechanism showing a predetermined number of coins in the coin counter tube.

Referring now to the drawing, the numeral l generally represents a coin counting and packing device embodying the features of the present invention, and includes a coin hopper ll adapted to receive the coins to be counted. Said coin hopper H is supported by three standards [2, l3 and M, with said standards l2 and I3 being secured to the underside of said coin hopper II in any suitable manner, as by means of a metal strip I which is secured to the underside of coin hopper H by any suitable fastening means, such as screws l6 held in place by locknuts H.

The metal strip l5, at its forward end, is secured to a pivot bar [8, which is carried by a plate l9, which is secured to the rear of the cross bar 20, which connects the standards 12 and I3. By such a construction, the coin hopper l I can be moved vertically about the pivot .bar 18, when standard I4 is removed. The standard I4 is remova-bly secured to a downwardly extending flange portion I50. of the metal strip l5, which is secured to the underside of the coin hopper H.

The coin counting and packing mechanism is secured to the front portion of the cross bar 20 by means of bolts 22 and locknuts 23.

The primary features of the present invention pertain to the coin counting and packing mechanism which is to be described hereinafter. The coin counting and packing mechanism includes a stationary coin receiving tube A which is flared outwardly at the upper portion thereof, as at 24, and is adapted to receive coins from the coin hopper l l. It should be pointed out that the coins in coin hopper H should all be of the Same denomination, as for example, either dimes, pennies, nickels, quarters or half-dollars. In other words, a separate coin counting and packing mechanism is necessary for coins of each denomination and the various parts thereof will be altered depending upon the denomination of the particular coin being counted and packed.

The cylindrical coin receiving tube A is provided with a vertical slot 25 in the wall thereof so that the coins received therein may be'observed as to the number thereof.

A supporting means generally indicated by the letter S is carried by the stationary tube A and includes a c-shaped bracket 26 which is'secured at one end thereof to the lower portion of the stationary tube A and extends downwardly therefrom; at one side thereof. The bracket 26 is apertured at its top and bottom portion to receive a pivot rod .21, upon which is secured a spring 28. Oppositely disposed from said bracket 26, is a metal strip 29, which is secured .at its top portion to the stationary tube A and extends downwardly therefrom. The strip 29 has an outwardly extending thumb piece .39, which is employed in operating the coin counting and packing mechanism.

Beneath the stationary coin receiving tube A is disposed a cylindrical coin counter tube B having an car 31 projecting from the upper portion thereof, with said ear being apertured at the outer portion thereof and adapted to engage the rod 21, which is secured in bracket .26, The spring 28 engages a portion of the ear 3!, With said spring being biased to keep said coin counter tube B in registry with said coin receiving tube A to receive coins which fall therethrough.

The .coin counter tube B has a vertical slot .32 which is disposed in the wall thereof in substantial vertical alignment with the slot 25. which is disposed in the wall of the coin receiving tube A. An element 3.3 is carried by the top portion of the coin counter tube B and engages against the lower wall portion of the coin receiving tube A when the said coin receiving tube A and the said coin counter tube B are in coaxial alignment to enable the coins being counted to fall vertically by gravity from one tube to the other.

A flange 34 is secured to the upper portion of the coin counter tube B remote from the ear 3| with said flange 34 being provided with a downwardly extending finger piece 35, which is employed in moving the coin counter tube B out of vertical alignment with the coin receiving tube A. The flange 34 has a stepped-up portion 34a, which is flush with the lower end of the coin receiving tube A, as the coin counter tube B is moved out of registry therewith, so as to prevent the coins which remain in the coin receiving tube A from falling or otherwise jamming the device.

It is an important feature of the present invention that a gap 36 be left between the bottom of the coin receiving tube A and the top of the coin counter tube B, so that when coins Z are disposed in the coin counter tube B, the top coin of said coins Z protrudes slightly above the upper edge of the coin counter tube B and extends into the gap or space 36 between the coin receiving tube A and the coin counter tube B. The gap 36 is preferably of the same width as the thickness of the coin being counted, to allow for slight variances in the thickness of the coins due to wear and the like. At the same time, with the gap 36 having the same width as the coin being counted, only a predetermined number of coins Z can be disposed in the coin counter tube B and there is no danger of less than, or more than, the predetermined amount of coins being in said tube B, At the same time, there is no likelihood of jamming the machine, as the portion 34a of the flange 34 is flush with the lower end of the coin receiving tube A, as the coin counter tube B moves out of registry therewith.

A base plate 31 is secured to the lower portion of the strip 29 and the bracket 26, with said base plate being positioned beneath the coin counter tube B when said tube B is in coaxial alignment with the stationary tube A. The base plate 31 supports the predetermined number of coins Z which will fill the coin counter tube B.

A coin packing tube C is carried by the base plate 31 beneath the coin counter tube B and to one side thereof. The coin packing tube C has an internal annular ridge 38. A cylindrical paper receptacle 39 has a portion disposed within the coin packing tube C, with the upper edge portion of said coin receptacle abutting the underside of the internal annular ridge 38 disposed within the said coin packing tube C. The paper receptacle 39 is adapted to receive coins which fall into the coin packing tube C from the coin counter tube B, as said coin counter tube B is moved into registry with said coin packing tube C.

In the operation of the coin counting and packing device, the coins of one denomination, for example, five cent pieces, are disposed in the coin hopper II, and propelled downwardly into the coin receiving tube A, where they fall into the coin counter tube B. The coins increase in number in the coin counter tube B, gradually filling tube B and subsequently tube A. This fact becomes apparent from observation of the vertical slot 32, which is disposed in a. wall of tube B, and the vertical slot 25, which is disposed in a wall of tube A. When the coins in the counter tube B have reached a predetermined amount, as for example, a dollar's worth, the last coin in the group will slightly protrude into the gap 36. The operator then moves the coin counter tube B out of registry with the stationary coin receiving tube A by grasping the finger portion 35 and moving it in an arcuate direction towards the thumb portion 30. The coins Z within the coin counter tube B will be moved along therewith until said coin counter tube B is in vertical alignment with the coin packing tube C, and flange 34 with stepped-up portion 34a will move into position under tube A thereby preventing coins which remain in receiving tube A from falling or jamming the device. As the two tubes B and C are aligned, the predetermined number of coins Z within the tube B fall into tube C and into the paper receptacle 39, which is disposed within said tube C. The paper receptacle 39 is then removed from the coin packing tube C and the end portion of said receptacle is sealed into position.

The broad aspects of the present invention include a combination of a stationary coin receiving tube with a movable coin counter tube preferably carried by a tube support means secured to said stationary tube, and more particularly to the combination of a stationary coin receiving tube, a movable coin counter tube, and a stationary coin packing tube.

Various modifications of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit thereof, and it is therefore intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A gravity operated coin counting and packing device comprising, a stationary coin receiving tube, supporting means for said coin receiving tube, a coin counter tube disposed beneath said coin receiving tube and normally in registry therewith, the top of said coin counter tube being spaced from the bottom of said coin receiving tube by a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the coin being counted, said coin counter tube being constructed to receive a predetermined number of coins to permit the top coin to slightly protrude into the said space between the coin counter tube and the coin 'receiving tube, said coin counter tube being pivotally supported by said stationary coin receiving tube and adapted for movement out of registry with said coin receiving tube, a flange carried by the top portion of said coin counter tube and adapted to move under said coin receiving tube as the coin counter tube moves out Of registry therewith, a base plate disposed beneath said coin counter tube and carried by said stationary coin receiving tube independently of said supporting means for the stationary coin receiving tube, a coin packing tube disposed beneath and to one side of said coin counter tube and normally not in registry therewith, said coin packing tube being adapted to receive the pro-determined number of coins from the coin counter tube, as said coin counter tube is moved into registry therewith.

2. A gravity operated coin counting and packing device comprising, a stationary coin receiving tube, means for supporting said tube, a coin counter tube disposed beneath said coin receiving tube and normally in registry therewith, said coin counter tube being pivotally supported by said stationary coin receiving tube and adapted for movement out of registry with said coin receiving tube, a flange carried by the top portion of said coin counter tube and adapted to move under said coin receiving tube as the coin counter tube moves out of registry therewith, a base plate disposed beneath said coin counter tube and carried by said stationary tube independently of said supporting means for the coin receiving tube, a coin packing tube disposed beneath and to one side of said coin counter tube and normally not in registry therewith, said coin packing tube being adapted to receive the predetermined number of coins from the coin counter tube as said coin counter tube is moved into registry therewith.

3. A gravity operated coin counting device comprising, a stationary coin receiving tube, means forsupporting said tube, a coin counter tube disposed beneath said coin receiving tube and normally in registry therewith, said coin counter tube being pivotally supported by said stationary coin receiving tube and adapted for movement out of registry with said coin receiving tube, a flange carried by the top portion of said coin counter tube and adapted to move under said coin receiving tube as the coin counter tube moves out of registry therewith, and a base plate disposed beneath said coin counter tube and carried by said stationary coin receiving tube independently of said supporting means for the coin receiving tube.

4. A gravity operated coin counting and packing device comprising, a stationary coin receiving tube, support means including a vertically disposed rod carried by said coin receiving tube, a coin counter tube pivotally secured to said rod and normally in registry with said coin receiving tube, a flange carried by the top portion of said coin counter tube and adapted to move under said coin receiving tube as said coin counter tube moves out of registry therewith, a base plate beneath said coin counter tube in substantial vertical alignment with said coin receiving tube, said base plate being carried. by said support means, a coin packing tube disposed beneath and to one side of said coin counter tube and normally not in registry therewith, said coin packing tube being carried by said base plate and adapted to receive the coins from the coin counter tube as said counter tube is moved into registry therewith.

5. A gravity operated coin counting and packing device comprising, a stationary coin receiving tube, a coin packing tube disposed beneath and to one side of the coin receiving tube, a coin counter tube disposed between said coin receiving tube and said coin packer tube and normally in registry with said coin receiving tube, said coin counter tube being movably mounted on said coin receiving tube and adapted for movement out of registry with said coin receiving tube and into registry with said coin packer tube, means for preventing coins from escaping from the lower end of the coin counter tube when the coin receiving tube and the coin counter tube are in registry, means for preventing coins from escaping from the lower end of the coin receiving tube when the coin counter tube and the coin packer tube are in registry, and stop means for aligning the coin counter tube with the coin receiving tube or the coin packer tube.

LEONARD T. MICONI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

FOREIGN PATENTS Number 

